Whānau News: 8 December
 

Expectant Joy / Tim Palmer
Luke 1:39-56 bursts into a song of expectant joy from unexpected voices. Pregnant praise prophesy the overthrow of empires through the promised prince of peace. Join us at 10AM in-person or online.

For the Kids this Week...  
All of our programmes this week are celebrating their last day together for the year. We have enjoyed journeying with all the children this year. We wish you and your family a very merry Christmas. We hope you all have a safe and happy holiday. The kids church team will be taking a much needed break over January and will be back in action in February 2023.  We look forward to seeing you then.
 

Leadership Team Update
This is the first of many communications which the FBC leadership team (LT) intends to provide over the coming weeks as we consider the way forward further to Pastor Tim’s resignation.

The LT met on Monday 5 Dec (being Tim, Esther, Dave, Erin, Faye, Alan, Nicole, and Penny), plus (by invitation), Aaron (representing the Management Team) and Rachel Roche in her capacity as Kaitiaki/Regional Advisor for the Northern Baptist Association.

After prayer, Rachel led us through the LT responsibilities over the coming weeks including:
• A discussion about options for filling the gap between Tim’s departure and the appointment of the future leadership
• Setting up a search team in accordance with our constitution
• Calling the church to prayer

We also discussed how important it is that we are bringing new staff into as healthy a culture as we possibly can. For example, are there harmful matters in our past/present church that need to be addressed? Is this place a healthy work environment to bring a person into?

Our first task will be to finalise Tim’s last day with us, and then consider how we fill the gap between his departure and our future permanent leadership. Our next communication to you all will focus on this. Be in prayer whānau. 

Faye and the Leadership Team

Christmas Day Service
On Christmas Day we will gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This service will start a little earlier than usual at 9:30am. We look forward to seeing you there. 

Do you want to be Baptised?
If you love Jesus and you would like to be baptised, we would love to hear from you. In the new year we will be running a baptism conversation for any one who is interested. Please email: sacha@fbc.nz for more information.

Carols Services in our Area
Carols by Candlelight — at Wrights Water Garden on the 18th Dec at 8pm. 
St James Presbyterian Church — Christmas Eve (24th) at 7pm.

Serving in Kids Church 2023
If you are looking for a place to serve in 2023, kids church might be your place!  Please contact Carol on carol@fbc.nz for more information.

Summer Services
Sunday 1st Jan — There will be no service on this Sunday. However, there will be an online resource, along with a booklet that can guide you from wherever you will be.

Sunday 8th Jan — There will be no formal service on this Sunday. This week will be a focused on small group gatherings. There will be a range of options that our church whānau can participate in:
1. Gathering in your Lifegroup.
2. Gathering with your whānau.
3. Connecting with a group of people while on holiday.
4. Small gathering in the cafe at church.

Sunday 15th Jan — Sunday morning service running as usual.

Quilt
Thank you to all those who bought raffle tickets for the quilt. The winner is Julie Khor. The amount raised was $366 which will be doubled for the building repayment project.

Christmas Offering for "Missions"
For many years FBC has allocated its Christmas Day Offering to a "Missions" project. Last year the funds went to help Kevin and Gillian Bird employ a local worker. This person has worked out really well and they would like to keep him employed for another year if possible. The GAT Team would like to recommend that we again allocate the traditional Christmas Offering to this cause. Click this link for more details. The appeal is open through to the end of Jan. Please deposit any funds via the church bank account 01 0403 0013842 00 including the Ref. Christmas Offering or click here, and donate under "Overseas Missions"

Church Center Profile
Moved address or changed phone numbers? Please help us keep our records up-to-date by adapting your profile here. We print a phone list for those without access to technology. Please fill in the printed phone list permission form to have your details included.

Covid Reminder/Update
We are aware that there is a lot of Covid-19 and flu cases in the community at present. We would like to encourage you to join us online for the service if you are unwell. Please do not come to our church building if you are Covid positive.

Prayer Chain
If you would like to submit a prayer request to the Prayer Chain, please email Arlene Hutcheon on arlene@ps.gen.nz or send a text to 0274726198. All prayer requests are treated as confidential.

Giving
You can give online, by automatic payment or direct debit. Our church bank account: 01 0403 0013842 00 or click here to donate now.

As an encouragement to all of you while you're at home...check out some of the songs we're currently singing on Sundays and a few new ones we might sing in the future. If you have a Spotify account, this is the link to FBC Worship on Spotify